Notice of Intent | USGS 17 FA 0050

Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS 17 FA 0050

This Notice of Intent is a discretionary federal grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which is part of the Department of the Interior. The opportunity is titled "NAS Study Future Water Resource Needs for the Nation Water Science and Research at the U.S. Geological Survey" and is associated with Funding Opportunity Number USGS 17 FA 0050. It was created on February 23, 2017, with an original closing date of March 11, 2017, indicating a short application window typical of targeted or time-sensitive federal research initiatives.

The purpose of the funding, as reflected in the title and brief description, is to support a National Academies of Sciences (NAS) study focused on the nation's future water resource needs, specifically in the context of water science and research priorities relevant to USGS. While the listing does not provide a detailed statement of work, the framing suggests an effort to evaluate emerging and long-term water challenges across the United States and to identify research directions, information gaps, and science capacity needs that would help federal, state, tribal, and local decision-makers manage water resources more effectively. In practice, studies of this kind often address issues such as water availability, drought and flood risk, groundwater depletion, water quality and contaminants, climate variability and change, aging infrastructure impacts, ecosystem water needs, population and land-use change, and the data and monitoring systems required to support forecasting and planning.

The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is listed under Natural Resources. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number is 15.808, which corresponds to USGS activities and assistance related to geological and natural resource science, including water resources. The opportunity anticipates making a single award (Expected Awards: 1), which signals that this is likely intended for one lead organization to conduct and deliver the study or to coordinate the effort. The maximum federal funding amount listed (Award Ceiling) is $513,445, suggesting a moderately sized research and convening effort, potentially covering expert committee operations, stakeholder engagement, report drafting and peer review processes, and related administrative support.

Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, explicitly excluding institutions of higher education. This restriction narrows the applicant pool to qualified nonprofit entities capable of managing a national-level study and producing authoritative research syntheses or consensus reports. Because the opportunity is described as a "Notice of Intent," it may have been used to signal USGS's intention to fund a specific type of project or a particular kind of partner organization, and in some cases these notices precede a more detailed funding announcement or are used when an agency anticipates a single, specialized award aligned with a defined program objective.

Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a targeted USGS-supported effort to fund a nonprofit-led NAS-style study examining how the United States should assess and prepare for future water resource needs, with an emphasis on strengthening water science and research planning. The main takeaways from the posting are the single expected award, the relatively specific applicant eligibility, the focus area of national water resource needs, and the award ceiling of $513,445 within the USGS natural resources assistance framework.

• The Department of the Interior, Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 23, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 11, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $513,445.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for USGS 17 FA 0050

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